The importance of intaking the necessary nutrients the human body needs is crucial to healthy life. Not providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it requires, cannot only impact your energy but can also lead to many digestive diseases. According to NewsRX, about 20 percent of Americans have diseases related to digestive disorders (Health Reference Center Academic 2018).
Gastrointestinal problems (GI) is a digestive issue that can be the root cause of several other diseases. Gastrointestinal diseases include the gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, the small and large intestines, stomach, rectum, liver, gallbladder, and the pancreas. The digestive system plays an important part in the human body. Food is broken up into nutrients to give the body what is needed to function. The GI tract works together and converts food into amino acids and minerals, so it can be digested and later absorbed.
When parts of the body lack the nutrients, the results could either be acute or life-threatening overtime. A few of the most common symptoms associated with GI diseases are constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating. These symptoms may go away after a day; however, if it persists longer than normal, the body could be showing signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, about 15 percent of Americans have IBS but approximately 5 percent of the Americans have been diagnosed by a doctor (IFFGD 2015).
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While constipation and diarrhea play a role in IBS, it is unknown on the exact cause of IBS; therefore, when being diagnosed with IBS, a doctor may look at all the factors that play a part in IBS such as changes in digestive process and frequency. If there are any infections associated with bacteria in the intestines. Aside from food, stress, and hormones are symptoms that have been associated with IBS. Researchers have found that when stress level spikes, the symptoms, and signs of IBS in a patient increases significantly as well (“Irritable Bowel Syndrome” 2018).
Hormonal changes have also been found that when present. For this reason, risk factors in people who are more at risk to have IBS are females. In addition, if there is family history of IBS, it is more likely that IBS is in your genes. Lastly, people who suffer from mental health problems such as stress, depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues are risk factors (“Irritable Bowel Syndrome” 2018).Treatment for IBS depends on the type and severity of IBS. While there is no treatment that cures IBS, a normal healthy lifestyle is possible by working with your doctor to find the right treatment for you. For IBS patients whose severity is considered mild, controlling stress levels and suggesting a gluten-free diet might be suffice.
A diet known to be followed for patients with IBS is called, FODMAP. This diet includes all the types of food that your digestive system can easily handle and ease the symptoms of IBS. While some patients can handle more intake than others from items found on the FODMAP list, it is a good guide when learning what one can and cannot eat. When IBS in a patient is more severe, patients might be referred to a dietician to work with the patient in coming up with the best treatment. Dieticians will examine the severity of the patient with IBS.
For those who experience depression, they may be prescribed anti-depressant medications and reexamine the patient later. For patients that do not suffer from depression and have not responded well by just changing their diet, medication can be prescribed. Some are to be taken specifically before they have a meal to help your small intestines when passing stool (“Irritable Bowel Syndrome” 2018). The importance of intaking the right amount of nutrients our body needs is essential to have a healthy metabolism. In addition, getting medical attention when IBS is affecting other parts of your body can help in preventing other disorders including chronic diseases.
